Page:Tales from old Japanese dramas (1915).djvu/117



OWARD the end of the sixteenth century there lived a brave warrior named Akéchi Mitsuhidé. He was in the service of Oda Nobunaga, under whose command he distinguished himself in several battles. In appreciation of his exploits, General Nobunaga conferred on him extensive fiefs in the provinces of Tamba and Ōmi, and created him one of the chief daimios. He was so grateful for his promotion, that he served his prince with even greater loyalty than before.

Nobunaga had been born a lesser daimio in the province of Owari, during the Dark Age of Japanese history. He had subjugated almost all the powerful chieftains in the different provinces who were contending against one another, and restored peace and order throughout the greater part of the Empire. The Emperor thereupon appointed him Minister of the Right, in recognition